PARAMUS—Police have identified Demaris D. Martinez, a 28-year-old social media influencer from Hillsdale, as the woman struck and killed by two vehicles while attempting to cross Route 17 in Paramus around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Martinez, a social media influencer with a strong online presence, was active on YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. She shared content about beauty, lifestyle, travel, and her Christian faith. Under her YouTube profile, Queen Demaris (@onemaris), she highlighted her wide range of interests and causes. Recently, she had begun creating more videos with her young son, Kameron.
Nine months ago, she posted a video titled “My First Mets Game With Kam.” Around the same time, she shared behind-the-scenes footage with NBC News’ Stay Tuned’s “#FillerNation,” which explored the growing pressure on young people to enhance their appearance through plastic surgery. According to USA Today, Martinez had openly discussed her experiences with breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, and lip fillers, which she chronicled for her followers.
“I don’t care how people see me… What can I really do? I’m going to keep living my truth,” she shared in her 2023 video, “My Testimony.” In this video, Martinez reflected on her upbringing in the Pentecostal church, her move from the Bronx, N.Y., to the Pascack Valley, her social adjustment, and her efforts to “pull kindness into the world.”
She said life was difficult for her and her two sisters, and claims she was a victim of racism at Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale, where she graduated in 2015. In addition to clashing with cliques—who, according to her, ridiculed her voice, mixed Spanish heritage, frequent Facebook posts, and ties to The Bronx—she experienced outright racism. In fact, documented incidents of hate speech occurred at the school that year. The district superintendent attributed these to “a small group of students who subscribe to white supremacist viewpoints.” The school addressed these incidents, with the perpetrators facing discipline or leaving the district.
The messages, which were also discovered at Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, horrified and disappointed many, but they also became a point of reflection in classroom discussions. The Hills Trailblazer reported that Heather Lutz, a Literature of the Holocaust and English teacher at Hills and a third-generation Holocaust survivor, remarked, “The Holocaust could not have happened without millions of collaborators and bystanders assisting the perpetrators. Thus, we cannot stand idly by.”
That same year, the board of education, following input from students and other stakeholders, decided to phase out Pascack Valley’s “Indian head” logo, replacing it with the letters PV. Soon after, Pascack Valley’s teams changed their name from the Indians to the Panthers, while sister school Pascack Hills transitioned from the Cowboys to the Broncos. Though the changes sparked controversy, proponents viewed them as steps toward greater respect and inclusivity.
In 2018, racial and homophobic slurs resurfaced at Pascack Valley High School, a development that brought news crews back to town. “Google it,” she urged her fans.
Martinez also opened up about her fraught family and personal relationships, including experiences with sexual abuse and domestic violence. She spoke about the role her faith played in helping her navigate these challenges and emerge stronger. Martinez revealed that her mother was firmly against her use of marijuana and attempted to get her into therapy. At 16, she briefly ran away in 2013, an incident that made the local papers when she returned safely.
She said that later a partner beat her so badly she suffered a miscarriage.
Toward the end of the video Martinez says, “I already saw my future: I’m going to become a great lawyer and help a bunch of women, and a lot of people will know God through me. I’m doing it His way now, honestly.”
According to Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti, Martinez was struck by a white Kia driven by a 42-year-old man while attempting to cross the southbound lanes of Route 17 after crossing the northbound lanes and median. Moments later, she was hit by a tractor-trailer driven by a 65-year-old man.
Detective Nicholas Luciano of the Paramus Police Criminal Investigation Bureau confirmed Martinez’s identity.
Her followers have been mourning her loss in the comments of her most recent social media posts, sharing memories and paying tribute to the vibrant content creator known for her honesty and dedication to her faith.
Authorities are still investigating how Martinez ended up near the Citibank on Route 17 North. Reports indicate that the Paramus Police Crash Investigation Unit, Paramus Detectives, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation are involved. Police are asking anyone with information about her whereabouts prior to the accident to contact Detective Luciano at (201) 262-3400 ext. 428.